Saudi Arabia has set up a high-level committee to restructure Islam?s holiest sites after 244 Muslims were killed in a stampede on Sunday during the annual haj pilgrimage.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that King Fahd had issued a decree ordering formation of the Committee for the Development of Mecca and Medina, adding it would be headed by senior ministers and princes from the birthplace of Islam. The 244 victims, mainly from Indonesia, Pakistan and other Asian nations, were trampled to death at the climax of the haj during a devil-stoning ritual that has in the past witnessed similiar disasters.

The tragedy occurred after some people collapsed as a two-million strong crowd surged towards the Jamarat Bridge in Mena to throw stones at pillars representing the devil.

The crush occurred on the first day of the Eid al-Adha, a Muslim feast to commemorate Abraham?s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail at God?s command.

SPA said the committee would draft a new layout for Mena and other holy sites. It would be funded and supported by all the kingdom?s ministries.

Authorities said they had tried to avert stampedes this year by urging people to perform the ritual at different times.

?There were more than 400 metres of people pushing in the same direction which resulted in the collapse of those next to the stoning area and those behind. That led to panic,? Pilgrimage Affairs and Endowments Minister, Iyad bin Amin Madani told reporters after the incident.

Many Muslims believe death during the haj, one of the most striking manifestations of faith and unity in the world, to be a gift from God that cleanses them of sin.

The haj has seen deadly stampedes almost every year. In 1990, 1,426 pilgrims were crushed to death in a pedestrian tunnel at Mecca. Last year 14 people were trampled to death.

Andrew Hammond